Coretta Bates, a 31-year-old resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has entered a guilty plea for aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg in Tampa, Florida. Bates is now facing a mandatory federal prison sentence of two years, though the date for sentencing has yet to be determined.
As per the plea agreement details, Bates engaged in fraudulent activities beginning on April 18, 2023. She opened an account at a credit union using a counterfeit North Carolina driver license bearing her photograph but containing the identifying information of another individual referred to as "SLD." This enabled her to secure a credit card with a $20,000 limit issued under "SLD's" name.
Between May 9 and July 7, 2023, multiple cash withdrawals were executed by "SLD" through interactive teller machines from accounts associated with the credit union. These transactions totaled $75,700 and were conducted under false pretenses by exploiting another person's identity without their consent.
A collaborative investigation led by the U.S. Secret Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office uncovered that several accounts had been opened under different names using similar methods during the same period. Contact with the actual "SLD" confirmed she had no involvement with or knowledge of these accounts. The fraudulent activities inflicted losses on the credit union amounting to approximately $165,117.
The case continues to be investigated by the United States Secret Service with support from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.